Musical instrument.



PATENTED JAN. 13, 1903@ A. SGHOENHUT'. MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APILIGATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1902-.-

10 non nL.

l ldfl/ flll IIA UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT SCHOENHUT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MUSIC-AL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,388, dated January13, 1903.

Application filed September 30,1902. Serial No. 125,417. (No model.)

T0 on whom, it pea/y concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT SOHOENHUT, a citizen of the United States,residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Musical Instruments, of which the following is aspecification.

Myinvention relates to that form of musicalinstrument familiarly knownas a tubular bell, used principally inchiming-clo'cks,

although applicable for other uses that may readily suggest themselves.

The object of my invention is to improve bells of this general characterfor the purpose of increasing the tone and resonance of the same and atthe same time reducing the vibrations usually present in ordinary bellsof this character when struck by the hammer.

My invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a sectional view of a tubular bell made in accordance withone part of my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating anotherform of tubular bellembodying my invention, and Figs. 3, t, 5, and 6 areviews illustrating forms of tubular bells in which are embodied thefeatures of my invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In myimproved form of tubular bell I propose to stiffen the ends of thesame by grooving or otherwise shaping the ends of the same with asuitable tool, upsetting the metal wall 1 of the bell, as shown at 2 inFig. 1, which action forms an annular groove on the exterior of thetubular bell and an annular rounded rib on the interior of the same.This groove and rib is preferably semicircular, although it may beangular, if desired.

In lieu of stiffening the tube by grooving the metal of the same I mayupset and turn in the ends in the manner shown at 3 in Fig. 2 byspinning or otherwise, effecting the same result as the grooving of thetube after the manner shown in Fig. 1. In some instances I may employmore than one stiffening-groove, and in Fig. 3 I have shown the end of atubular bell in which three grooves are formed.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a tubular bell in which the features of the bellsshown in Figs. 1 and 2 have been combinedviz., the turning in of the endillustrated at 3 in Fig. 2 and the forming of the groove 2 shown in Fig.1 near such end and in the usual way. This form of procedure providesadditional stiffness and effectually prevents any vibration of the bell.

In the tubular bells shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the grooves are separate anddistinct, and particularly so in Fig. 3, each groove being separated bya straight wall of metal l. Fig. 5, however, I have shown a form oftubular bell that has been corrugated near the end for the purpose ofstiffening the same. It will be noticed that the straight wall of thetube is curved in and out to form the series of corrugations 5.

In Fig.6 a further modification embodying my invention is shown. In thisview the ends of the tubular hell are stiffened by turning in the endsof the tube byany approved method, this turned-in portion extending forsome distance and being flattened against the inside wall of the tube,(shown at 6.) It will be understood, of course, that each end of thetube is provided with the stiffening means illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5,and 6. The tubes will be suspended by a suitable cord 7, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2, such cord being attached in the usualand well-knownmanner.

In Fig. 1 I have illustrated a hammer 8, arranged to strike the bell,This hammer may strike on either side of the groove, although it ispreferable to strike the bell at a point between the groove and the endof the tube. Hammers may also be provided for striking the opposite endof the tubular bell on either side of the groove or other stiffeningmeans.

I am aware that it has been proposed to stilfen the ends of bells ofthis character by welding rings inside and outside the ends of the same,that it has also been proposed to stiffen the ends by riveting orotherwise fastening a cross-piece within the tubes, and that, further,the ends of such bells have been stiffened by spinning the metal toreduce and round the end of the same. The feature of my invention,however, lies in'the factthat the bell is stiffened directly bymanipulating or acting upon the metal of which it is composed and bychanging the position and shape of a portion of this metal, therebyincreasing the rigidity of the bell and preventing undue vibration whenstruck by the hammer. There is no additional part or member to be addedISO to the tube; but it forms in itself a complete bell having athrough-opening from end to end, insuring perfect tone and resonance.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1. A tubular bell having reduced portions intermediatethe ends of the same, said ends extending in the fulldiameter of thetube beyond the reduced portions.

2. A tubular bell having stifiened portions formed by upsetting andcontracting the body of said bell adjacent to the ends of the same, saidends extending in the full diameter of the tube beyond the stiffenedportions.

3. A tubular bell having its ends stiffened by upsetting and contractingthe body of said bell, such stiffened portions being Within the terminallines of said ends which extend beyond the stiffened portions in thefull diameter of the tube.

4. A tubular bell having a stiffening band or zone formed by upsettingand contracting the metal of which the bell is formed, such stiffeningportion lying between the ends of the tube, said ends extending in thefull diameter of the tube beyond the stiffened portion.

5. A tubular bell having a stiffening band or zone intermediate the endsof the same, such stiffening-band being formed by upsetting andcontracting the wall of the bell within its terminal lines, the ends ofthe same extending in the full diameter of the tube.

6. A tubular bell having integral stiffening means formed directlywithin and upon the metal of the bell intermediate the ends of the same,said ends extending beyond the stiffening portions in the full diameterof the tube.

7. A tubular bell havingintegral stiffening means atornear the ends ofthe same, formed directly Within'and upon the metal of the bell, saidends extending beyond the stiffening porlions in the full diameter ofthe tube.

8. A tubular bell having stiffened portions formed by upsetting andcontracting the metal at or near the ends of the same to form an annulargroove on the outside and an annular rib on the inside of the tube, saidstiffening portions being Within the terminal lines of the ends, whichends extend beyond said stiffening portions in the full diameter of thetube.

9. A tubular bell having portions of the metal of which the bell iscomposed upset at two or more points, such upset portions beingcontracted to stiffen the tubular Wall of the bell,the ends of the sameextending beyond the upset and contracted portions in the full diameterof the tube.

10. A tubular bell tapering from end to end and having reduced portionsintermediate said ends, the latter projecting beyond the reducedportions in the normal diameter of the tube.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT SCHOENHUT.

Witnesses:

JOHN FITZPATRICK, HUGH FITZPATRICK.

